Tibi in New Jersey

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Tibi: "We share the same hopes and pains"

February 9, 2008: Speaking before a room full of anxious audience in Clifton, NJ, Dr. Ahmad Tibi, who is a member of the Israeli Knesset and represents the Arab block in the Parliament, shared his personal thoughts and assessment of the current situation facing Palestinians inside the Green Line and in the occupied Palestinian Territories. It is believed that this was the first visit by Dr. Tibi to NJ. Arrangements for his talk was coordinated by the Holy Land Fund and the Palestinian American Congress. The event was MC'd by Dr. Ghassan Shabaneh.

Dr. Tibi's thrust was to expose Israel's deliberate and systematic maltreatment of its one million strong Arab minority. Whether in educational funding or employment opportunities, Arabs in Israel do not receive the same share to which other citizens, namely Jews , are entitled.

The speaker reminded the audience that the first victims of the 2000 Palestinian Intifada against Israeli oppression were thirteen Arabs inside Israel whose legal case was closed without ever finding and convicting the killers.

Dr. Tibi assured the audience that he will use all his power to bridge the gap between the different Palestinian factions to achieve their national objectives."

Dr. Tibi (left), Dr. Saif Titi and Dr. Aref Assaf.

The event was followed by a lengthy Q &A session.

Dr. Ahmad Tibi (Arabic: أحمد الطيبي‎, Hebrew: אחמד טיבי‎, sometimes spelt Ahmed Tibi, born 19 December 1958) is an Israeli politician and leader of the Arab nationalist party in Israel, Ta'al (the Arab Movement for Renewal). He was elected on a joint ticket with the United Arab List to serve in Israel's parliament, the Knesset. He describes himself as Arab-Palestinian in nationality, but has called Israel his "homeland" and vowed to stay in Israel regardless of the fate of the Palestinian territories.

Tibi is from Taibeh, in the Center District of Israel. He is a trained physician (specializing in gynecology) and graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Source